The eunuch Meng Ji and his group traveled lightly and rode horses back and forth to Annan Kingdom, which should be faster. However, Meng Ji and others may stay in Annan Kingdom and will only return to Beijing after learning about the local situation.

So the navy in Tsuma Island was conquered and the report was first sent back to the capital.

The eunuch Zhou Quan and the general Wan Liang who went north fought against the Japanese pirates and the Zong clan of Tsuma, everything went smoothly. The civil and military officials had already started to build a fortress on Tsuma Island, and more than 500 mainland troops occupied and guarded that place.

In the memorial, Wan Liang said that there is not much land available for cultivation near Tsuma Port; and the arable land in other parts of the island is relatively scattered and sporadically located in the valleys, making it inconvenient to farm. Therefore, the five hundred-household teams stationed in Tsuma Island cannot obtain enough food on the spot for a long time.

The memorial suggested two methods. One was to use naval vessels to regularly transport grain supplies from North Korea; the other was to lay off a part of the official troops who landed on the island.

Zhu Gaoxu quickly decided to issue an order to the North Korean country, ordering them to send ships to transport grain to Tsuma Island in the near future. At present, Japan's reaction is not clear. Zhu Gaoxu decided to station troops to Tsuma Island first, gain a foothold with the advantages of the fortress and navy, and wait for a while before talking.

The north and south roads are Changshuiyuan, and the imperial court sent people to do something casually, and it took a few months to pass...

Judging from the season, midsummer has passed, but the turn of summer and autumn in the capital seems to be even hotter. The heat comes from the ground, and only when the wind comes after night can it blow it away slightly, making people feel the coolness of autumn.

Zhu Gaoxu hasn't left the capital for a long time, but he occasionally leaves the palace for a walk. This morning, he left the palace.

Yanque Lake is located in the outer city area between Taipingmen and Chaoyangmen. It used to be very large and was the largest lake near the capital. However, because the imperial palace was built during the Hongwu period, a large area of ​​water was filled, and now it has been reduced by half.

There is a spacious courtyard villa on the bank of the west bank. Zhu Gaoxu came here today and saw that it had just been repaired.

The person who accompanied Zhu Gaoxu was Ma Enhui. The two walked along the stone path into a small bamboo forest. If they had not seen the slowly moving guards of the Jinyiwei and the eunuchs from time to time, the place would have seemed even quieter.

"Some new bamboos were planted outside. They are still small now, but by next year, this bamboo forest will be denser." Zhu Gaoxu said casually.

Ma Enhui said: "There is a kind of elegance that leads to the winding paths."

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and continued to walk forward for a while. As soon as the two of them walked out of the bamboo forest, they turned to the left and looked at it. Ma Enhui's face showed a surprise expression and couldn't help but sigh.

As soon as they left the bamboo forest, their vision suddenly became very open. The sunshine in the east was bright, hanging over the vast Yanque Lake; even if there was a wall in the distance, it did not completely block the open scene of Yanque Lake. Outside the wall was Yanque Lake, and there was an artificial lake inside, which shimmered when the wind blew.

At first glance, this scene seems to be not in the capital city, but among the fields. The huge Yanque Lake makes the world seem empty and vast.

An antique courtyard is located by an artificial lake. In front of it is a yard surrounded by wooden fences, with a loft inside.

Ma Enhui watched the scenery and stopped for a long time.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at her slightly creamy face and asked, "What do you think of this place?"

Ma Enhui nodded without hesitation and said, "It's like living in seclusion, but this house is in the capital city. The people who built this house are definitely not ordinary families."

"Of course, it turned out to be the royal family's industry. It was the Jianwen period, don't you know?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

Ma Enhui shook her head.

Zhu Gaoxu said calmly again: "Enhui thinks the place is good, that's fine."

Ma Enhui asked softly: "What does the emperor mean?"

Zhu Gaoxu said: "This is something for you."

"Ah!" Ma Enhui's expression was very subtle, with surprise and confusion. In an instant, Zhu Gaoxu seemed to feel her mixed feelings.

Zhu Gaoxu then took out a stack of paper from his arms and handed it to Ma Enhui who was located behind him: "These are land deeds, there are this courtyard, several manors and fields in the Zhili area, and some shops. It will be yours in the future."

"I am single, so there is no need for so many things, and the Lord doesn't have to do this." Ma Enhui's voice was a little strange.

After Zhu Gaoxu stopped, he was surprised and a little at a loss when he saw her. He stuffed the paper into Ma Enhui's hand, "It's not like the throne, it's not like the throne, it needs to be rejected three times."

When Ma Enhui heard this, she couldn't help but laugh. She immediately held back her smile and said, "I'm not polite. It's useless for a woman to take so much property."

"It's better than relying on others' roofs, you can get freedom." Zhu Gaoxu said.

"Freedom?" Ma Enhui repeated in confusion.

Zhu Gaoxu also repeated it and looked at her with encouragement: "Free."

After a while, Ma Enhui was worried and said, "These lands should be owned by the royal family. The Lord gave them to others. Wouldn't the ministers advise?"

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I first use royal property to the 'Western Shipping Factory' in exchange for part of the shares of the merchant gang; then Shen Xu will transfer it to 'Mrs. Wang, that is, you. You are Enhui. The ministers cannot control such things."

Ma Enhui nodded thoughtfully.

Zhu Gaoxu said again: "In the future, Shen Xu's profits of the maritime trade merchants will not only pay taxes to the Maritime Promotion Office, but also share them with the royal family. This is a very reasonable requirement. The trade routes opened up by the Ming Dynasty's official army for merchants have paid huge costs.

Just like a transportation line that is being opened recently, from Yunnan to Honghe, and then to Songtai Port (Haifang City) to enter the sea; our local governments will repair the official shops along the road, which is very expensive. However, this is also a mutually beneficial event. The court can better control Annan and transport the minerals in Yunnan to the southwest region with water."

Ma Enhui whispered: "The emperor is talented and generous, and treats people with kindness."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "The royal family's property was originally yours. Moreover, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be who I am now."

Ma Enhui hurriedly said, "It's all about the Zhu family, and it has nothing to do with my concubine anyway."

The two walked slowly for a while. Ma Enhui's white long skirt was very long, and the "rustling" sounds made on the stone slab were also clearly audible.

After a while, she couldn't help asking, "Why did the Lord treat me so well? It's just because I have helped you accidentally?"

"You don't have to think so, they are all things outside of your body." Zhu Gaoxu said, "I didn't give you anything. If you don't want to go back to the palace, the royal family's status is not as honorable as you; these are what you deserve now."

Ma Enhui said softly: "It is better than anything to get this heart."

Zhu Gaoxu said, "I have no heart. To women, I am just a public instrument."

Ma Enhui looked at Zhu Gaoxu and lowered her head to ponder.

Zhu Gaoxu said, "If I have a heart, wouldn't I be divided into pieces? And if I give my heart to you, or favor anyone alone, then where will the queen and those concubines guard me in the palace?"

Ma Enhui said quietly: "I understand."

She was in a daze for a while, and her expression suddenly changed again, and her face was a little pale: "I can't forgive myself."

"Why?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

Ma Enhui didn't answer.

After she was silent for a while, she still said to herself: "If the women of the palace were like the emperor and could see through it, perhaps there would be not so many life-and-death battles in the palace."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately said: "There will be the same when the old and violent emperor is in power. The women will fight for something else, and the harem at that time is like the officialdom."

Ma Enhui smiled bitterly: "It seems to be as the Lord said."

Zhu Gaoxu pointed to the attic in the courtyard: "Let's go up and take a look. You can see the Yanque Lake even further away from the lake."

So the two walked into the yard, climbed up to the attic from the wooden stairs, and stood behind the wooden railings to see the view. The breeze in the air was caressing, and Ma Enhui watched the distance of the lake, closed her eyes gently and took a deep breath, with a comfortable smile on her face.

At this time, she withdrew her gaze, turned her head to look up at Zhu Gaoxu's face, and suddenly asked, "If... the emperor can only choose one person as his companion, who do you choose?"

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, and immediately realized that sometimes the woman’s questions were really difficult to answer.

He thought for a while and said, "I was born as a vassal king. Except for the queen, the women around me all chose by myself, so of course I was satisfied. The queen means father and mother, but I was very happy to see her at first. If there was only one person to accompany me, no matter who I met first, it would be great."

Ma Enhui glanced at the empty corridor behind the railing and whispered: "Is there me in it?"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded immediately.

After he replied with his actions, he thought about the reason. At first he felt sympathy and also felt that her appearance and face were good. Later, he was intertwined with grudges and somehow he began to worry about it. When Ma Enhui wanted to kill herself in despair, Zhu Gaoxu accidentally tore her clothes when she saved her. Although the atmosphere was wrong at that moment, he was immediately attracted by her body. When he thinks about it, his heart is also restless.

After hearing this, Ma Enhui stood silently. After a while, she said, "I have been standing here for a long time, and the wind is still a little cold."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu stretched out his arm and gently hugged her, allowing her soft breasts to lean against him. His nose also smelled the fragrance of some kind of plant spice on her hair.

Ma Enhui did not resist, and after a moment, she put her head on Zhu Gaoxu's shoulders on his own initiative: "I feel that I am very guilty now."

"We are all guilty," Zhu Gaoxu said, "Someone said before, living is sin (Chen Xianzhen). I also think that no one is completely holy, including those noble scholars and generals who have achieved success in thousands of bones, all enjoy the wealth of the people."

She murmured, "I am not as big as the priest, but even in a small place, I betray almost everyone."

Zhu Gaoxu said kindly: "As the situation is forcing you, you are just following the trend."

Ma Enhui shook her head, and Zhu Gaoxu felt the silk material on her shoulders feel warm and hot, as if she had just been wet with tears.
Chapter completed!